All diamonds are beautiful but some are famous while others are infamous. There are tales about diamonds that will make your hair stand on end. From curses to evil perpetrated with the ill begotten funds from mining diamonds to the occasional haunting, diamonds are shrouded in lore. We will leave the blood and gore behind and discuss some of the world’s most famous diamonds. Continue reading »
In times of recession, even the elite among us are prepared to suffer losses. Famed auction house Christie’s has certainly noticed changes in what people are paying for diamonds in current economic times. One thing nobody was prepared for, however, was the final bid on the 35.56 carat Wittelsbach blue diamond. When considering that the previous record for a diamond sold at auction was $16.5 for a 100 carat diamond over a decade ago, the final bid of $24.3 million dollars came as a surprise even to the manager of Christie’s. Continue reading »
All diamonds and jewelry are beautiful in their own right but some are so incredible they have made a lifetime impression. The following are a few of the most historic diamonds/jewelry pieces that have graced the hands and crowns of royalty around the world. Continue reading »
Over the years, royal engagement rings have certainly taken on many styles. While the sapphire engagement ring worn by Princess Diana is well known, the circumstances surrounding her engagement ring are not often remembered. When Prince Charles first proposed to the young blonde, he did not have an engagement ring. Rumor has it that he wanted to be sure that Lady Diana Spencer gave appropriate thought and consideration to the prospect of becoming his bride, marrying into the royal family and presumably one day becoming queen. Continue reading »
There have been several diamonds throughout history both real and created by writers that have captured our imaginations. The tales surrounding these diamonds have indeed made some of them infamous.
In the first decades of the current era, Pliny the Elder, a Greek historian, wrote of an infamous stone not yet called a diamond that would resist smashing and heating. In those days the stone was already coveted. It was described as being kept for royalty and associated with a variety of specials powers in the pagan tradition. It was likened to quartz but recognized not to be such and once that story began to circulate the quest for diamonds was begun in earnest. Continue reading »
Large diamonds are very rare and valuable things that represent wealth and prestige. Often seen as part of a vintage jewelry collection, there are a few large examples in museums and many people purchase diamonds for investment purposes as they only seem to gain value over time. Unlike stocks and bonds that fluctuate with the economy, diamonds are highly prized symbols of love and power.
Many kings and queens have owned large diamonds that have been mounted in crowns and scepters. The ancient pharaohs thought diamonds to hold magical powers and used them for rituals and other odd circumstances. Purchasing a large diamond at auction can be a very thrilling experience. Since diamonds are so individual, it is a sight to see a large diamond offered from an estate sale. Such is the case with the recently offered 32.01 carat emerald cut diamond that was recently offered by Christie’s, which sold for $7.6 million. Continue reading »
Anyone familiar with the famous diamonds of the world will recognize names like the “Star of Africa”, the “Cullinan I” or the “Hope Diamond”. These stones are both legendary and world-famous. Some of the best known diamonds are also lost to the world, for example the “Centenary Diamond” which was on display in the Tower of London for many years until its owners mysteriously removed it. To date, no word has been heard of the remarkable stone’s whereabouts, and most believe that it was purchased by a private collector.
What about some other famous, and yet not so famous stones? What about those known by the true diamond enthusiasts, yet not on a wider scale as well? Certainly there are many which have fascinating histories and are remarkable wonders of the natural world. A brief listing would have to include the following famous diamonds. Continue reading »
Imagine going out on your first archaeological dig and making the discovery of a lifetime. It seems like the stuff of daydreams and fantasies, but that’s what actually happened to Megan Webb, an American college student. She had decided to earn some summer credits by volunteering for a dig in Israel, only to find a rare portrait of Alexander the Great engraved on a carnelian gemstone. It appears to be part of a part of some ancient fashion jewelry, or a signet ring. While Ms. Webb doesn’t get to keep the piece, the find probably will look good on her application for graduate admission. Continue reading »
Screenwriters and novelists have always had a love affair with diamonds. What is it about diamonds that appeal to us writers? A list of great features about diamonds might include these five qualities:
Indeed, diamonds serve as great motivation when writing a story. You could even say that diamonds can serve as a catalyst in a piece of fiction—that is an element that initiates or accelerates a reaction without itself being affected. This is apparent in many great movies and novels that have featured inanimate diamonds as one of the major “characters” in the plot. Consider just a few of these films and how a diamond (or bunch of diamonds) played a primary role in the storyline. Continue reading »
Can diamonds help the needy, ill or poor? If some famous donors (and an anonymous one) have their way, then certainly diamonds can work wonders!For proof of that fact a person would have only look to Elizabeth Taylor. The oft-married, and divorced, super star has a nearly legendary affection for jewelry of all kinds. She even named her famous perfumes after some of her favorite stones, including diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
She is usually seen wearing one of her most precious gifts, a ring presented to her by Richard Burton, and known as the “Krupp” diamond. This stone fared better than another, distinctly more expensive, diamond presented to Taylor by her husband of two separate marriages.